| dc.description.abstract | This paper uses the Icelandic, thirteenth century work Egil’s Saga to learn more about the
way thirteenth century Icelanders depicted the past. This research looks at moments where the
saga depicts an aspect of the past as being different. These are moments with direct reference
to an element of the story being a certain way ‘at the time’. After first isolating the relevant
extracts, these were submitted to analysis. The paper looks at an array of topics from Egil,
including berkserkers, baptisms, laws, duels, burials, and something which looks like a
halberd, but is not really a halberd. From these topics, overarching themes emerged.
‘Violence’ turned out to be an important indication for differences with the past, however this
violence was subjected to rules and customs. Egil’s Saga explains such customs in great
detail. While the Saga Age appears to be a more violent time, with slavery, religious
tolerance, and people who had supernatural strength, the author depicts all this with a level
of nuance and respect. The past is not some glorious age, nor is it a despicable origin the
Icelandic people had to remove themselves from. | |
